Hand knitting device

ABSTRACT

A manually operable knitting device having a needle holder and a plurality of latch needles. Each needle comprises a needle body and a sliding latch and is spring-loaded to bias the latch to an open position. The needle bodies are slidably connected to the needle holder for sliding movement relative thereto in a direction perpendicular to the needle axes. A needle actuating element is pivotally connected to each needle latch and is slidable therewith with respect to the needle body. Each needle body and the associated actuating element are provided with cooperating catch members which, when engaged, cooperate to hold the needle latch in a closed position against the biasing spring force. The needle holder is provided with a plurality of notches defining needle holding positions, and each needle actuating element has thereon a projection adapted to be engaged within one of the notches when the needle latch is in its open position. When engaged, the notch and projection elements prevent the needles from sliding relative to the needle holder.

United States Patent [191 Richardson [451 Jan. 29, 1974 HAND KNITTING DEVICE 22 Filed: Nov. 3, 1972 21 Appl. No.2 303,643

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum ABSTRACT A manually operable knitting device having a needle holder and a plurality of latch needles. Each needle comprises a needle body and a sliding latch and is spring-loaded to bias the latch to an open position. The needle bodies are slidably connected to the needle holder for sliding movement relative thereto in a direction perpendicular to the needle axes. A needle actuating element is pivotally connected to each needle latch and is slidable therewith with respect to the needle body. Each needle body and the associated actuating element are provided with cooperating catch members which, when engaged, cooperate to hold the needle latch in a closed position against the biasing spring force. The needle holder is provided with a plurality of notches defining needle holding positions, and each needle actuating element has thereon a projection adapted to be engaged within one of the notches when the needle latch is in its open position. When engaged, the notch and projection elements prevent the needles from sliding relative to the needle holder.

13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAHZQ w, 3788' 102 SHEET 2 [IF 2 v HAND KNITTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to manually actuable knitting devices.

In the prior art, manually actuable knitting devices are known comprising needle beds, latch needles axially slidable in the needle beds, yarn feeders, stitch cams and sinkers. These elements cooperate to provide a knitting device that is complex and requires a great deal of skill on the part of the operator. This is evidenced by the practice of many retail outlets in offering courses in the operation of these machines.

Other devices are known in the prior art which comprise nothing more than a series of pegs rigidly fixed to a base. The operation of these machines requires a great deal of manual dexterity to lift the formed loops of a knitted fabric over new loops being formed without pulling the new loops off the peg as well.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manually actuable knitting device that is simple of construction and operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present-invention, there is provided a hand knitting device comprising a plurality of latch needles fixed to a needle holder.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand knitting device comprising a plurality of latch needles fixed to a needle holder for sliding movement of the needles with respect to the holder in a direction perpendicular to the needle axes.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand knitting device having spring-loaded, sliding latch needles, each of which is provided with a needle actuating element which, in response to manual actuatiomcontrols the movements of the needle and its latch. I g I In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand knitting device comprising a needle holder and a plurality of latch needles. Each needle comprises a needle body and a sliding latch and is spring-loaded to bias the latch to an open position. The needle bodies are slidably connected to the needle holder for sliding movement relative thereto in a direction perpendicular to the needle axes. A needle actuating element is pivotally connected to each needle latch and is slidable therewith with respect to the needle body. Each needle body and the associated actuating element are provided with cooperating catch members I which, when engaged, cooperate to hold the associated needle latch in a closed position against the biasing spring force. The needle holder is provided with a plurality of notches defining needle holding positions and each needle actuating element has thereon a projection adapted to be engaged with one of the notches when the needle latch is'in its open position. The notch and projection structures act, when engaged with one an.- other, to prevent the needles from sliding relative to the needle holder.

LIST OF DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a knitting device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a needle body;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a needle latch;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a needle actuating element;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in cross-section, showing the positions of the needle body, needle latch and needle actuating element of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 respectively, with the needle latch in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a needle actuating element pivoted with respect to its associated needle latch;

FIG. 7 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the interrelationship between the various elements of the device of FIG. 1 when the needle latch is in an open position;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing cooperating lock structures on a needle actuating element and the needle holder in locked position;

FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the operation of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a specific means of joining needle holder sections; and

FIG. 11 is a top view showing a plurality of arcuate needle holder sections interconnected in end-to-end relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a hand knitting device having a needle holder 10, a plurality of latch needles and a plurality of needle actuating elements 50.

The needle holder 10 has a longitudinal channel 12 opening to a front edge of the holder and a plurality of uniformly spaced slots 14 along its upper front edge adjacent the opening into the channel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a body portion 22 of a needle 20. The body portion 22 is provided with an enlarged portion 24 which is dimensioned and shaped to slide in the longitudinal channel 12 of needle holder 10 as can be seen more readily from FIG. 1. A yarn engaging hook 26 is formed at an end of body portion 22 remote from enlarged portion 24. Intermediate hook 26 and enlarged portion 24 are provided a stitch holding enlarged portion 32 and a catch portion 30, the functions of which will be described later. Body portion 22 has an axial bore 28 therethrough with a forward portion 27 of cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of a rear portion 29. Portion 29 communicates with the exterior of needle portion 22 through a slot 25.

Each of a plurality of latches 34 is dimensioned to slide within a respective one of needle body portions 22 as shown in FIG. 3. Latch 34 is provided with a forward portion 36 having a cross-section dimensioned and shaped to fit slidably within portion 27 of bore 28 and I a rearward portion 38 of larger cross-section dimensioned and shaped to fit slidably within portion 29 of bore 28. An upstanding lug extends away from portion 38 and is dimensioned to extend through, and slide within, slot 25. Lug 35 is provided with a rearwardly opening notch .37 of arcuate configuration. A spring 40 is disposed about portion 36 and is dimensioned such that an end 42 of the spring is in abutment with portion 38 as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the needle actuating element 50 is shown. Element 50 has a transversely extending rod portion 52 dimensioned to fit pivotally within notch 37 in lug 35 of latch 34. Element 50 also has a downwardly depending catch portion 54 on one side of rod 52 and a thin plate-like member 56 on the opposite side of rod 52. The body of element 50 is provided with arearwardly extending finger grip portion 58.

The. assembly of a needle body 22, a latch 34 and a needle actuating element 50 is shown in FIG. 5. Latch 34 is held within bore 28 of the needle body 22 with coil spring 40 held between portion 38 of latch 34 and a portion 31 of needle body 22. Actuating element 50 is pivotally connected by rod 52 to latch 34 for movement therewith with respect to needle body 22. In FIG. 5, catch member 54 of element 50 and catch member 30 of needle body 22 are shown as being engaged and thus holding latch '34 in a closed position against the force of coil spring 40.

In order to release catch members 54 and 30 from engagement, finger grip portion 58 of element 50 is depressed as shown in FIG. 6, whereby element 50 pivots about rod portion 52, disengaging catch members 54 4 and and thus releasing latch 34 for movement rearwardly to an open'position under the influence of coil spring 40.

In FIG. 7, needle 20 and its actuating element 50 are shown with the needle latch 34 in an open position. With the elements in this position, plate member 56 of element 50 is in engagement with a slot 14 on needle holder 10. This is shown in FIG. 8 wherein slot 14 is formed between two parallel, spaced elements 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the needle holder of the present knitting device consists of a series of interconnectable sections whereby a knitting device having any desired number of needles may be formed.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown an embodiment of a means for interconnecting two needle holder sections 10 and 11 in end-to-end relation. In this embodiment, each holder is provided with a plurality of bored lug members 18 and a longitudinally extending slot 15. There are additionally provided a plurality of apertures 19 on one end of the needle holder 10 and a plurality of mating projections 17 on the opposing end of needle holder 11. A pin member 60 has a rod-like portion 62 and a lug portion 64. To connect the two needle holders, the opposite mating ends of two needle holders 10 and 11 are abutted such that projections 17 mate with apertures 19 and the bores in the lugs 18 of both holders are in alignment. The'rod portion 62 of pin member 60 is then inserted through the bores in lugs 18 to interconnect lugs 18 and lug portion 64 of pin member 60 engages within the slots 15 of both needle holders.

A preferred method of use of the present knitting device will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 9.

Initially, all of the needles to be used are placed adjacent one another in the needle holder with the needles in their open positions and therefore locked against sliding movement with respect to the needle holder by the needle actuating elements. Loops are formed manually and slipped over each needle behind portion 32. The operator then lays a yarn through the needle hooks. With the device in this condition, the needle actuating element 50 of one of'the outermost needles (in FIG. 9, the needle furthest to the left) is pushed forwardly to close the needle latch such that a yarn is held within hook 26. Catches 54 and 30 are engaged at this point to hold the latch in a closed position. With element 50 in this position, the needle is released for sliding movement with respect to the needle holder. This is the condition of needle 20(d) in FIG. 9. The needle is then slid to the left and the loop held on needle body 22 by extension 32 is manually cast off from the needle. Portion 58 of element 50 is then depressed, thus opening latch 34 and locking the needle against sliding movement with respect to the needle holder. The loop now held on hook 26 is pushed rearwardly on needle body 22 past enlarged portion 32 to hold the formed loop behind portion 32. The needle is then in the position shown by needle 20(0) in FIG. 9.

While a preferred embodiment of the present knitting device has been shown and described, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

The needles of the present knitting device need not be spring-loaded, and, if they are not, it is not necessary to provide needle actuating elements as shown in the preferred embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a knitting device in accordance with the present invention wherein the needles are not slidable with respect to the needle holder.

A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a needle holder of arcuate configuration, separate sections of which can be interconnected to provide a circular knitting device. An arrangement of this nature is shown in FIG. 11 wherein three arcuate needle holder sections 70, 71 and 72 are held together in endto-end alignment by two locking pins 60. This locking arrangement has been previously described with reference to FIG. 10.

I claim: 1. A hand knitting device comprising: a. a needle holder; b. a plurality of latch needles, each having i. a first yarn-engaging end comprising a yarn engaging hook, ii. a second end remote from said first end, and iii. an axial direction defined by a line joining said first and second ends; and c. means for connecting each of said plurality of latch needles to said needle holder and preventing movement of the needle, in its axial direction, with respect to said needle holder, said means comprising i. track means on said needle holder; and ii. track engaging means on each said needle for slidably mounting said needles on said track means, whereby each said needle is adapted to slide relative to said needle holder in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said needle. 2. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of needles comprises:

a. a needle body; and b. a latch member slidably mounted on said needle body for movement axially of said needle body between an open position and a closed position. 3. A hand knitting device as claimed. in claim 2 wherein each said needle includes a resilient biasing means engaging said needle body and said latch whereby said latch is biased towards one of said open and closed positions.

4. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said one of said open and closed positions is said open position] 5. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said needle latch has connected thereto a needle actuating element.

6. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said needle actuating element and the needle body associated therewith include selectively interengageable catch means selectively holding said latch in whichever of said open or said closed positions is not said one of said open or said closed positions.

7. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 2 1 wherein each said needle latch has connected thereto a needle actuating element.

8. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 7 including locking means selectively locking each of said needles to said needle holder.

9. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 6 including locking means selectively locking each of said needles to said needle holder.

10. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprise:

l. a first locking structure on each of said needle actuating elements; and

2. a plurality of second locking structures on said needle holder, each of said second locking structures being engageable by a selected one of said first locking structures to lock a needle actuating element and the needle associated therewith against movement of said needle in a direction perpendicular to the needle axis with respect to the needle holder.

11. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said needle holder is of an arcuate configuration.

12. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim I wherein said needle holder has a predetermined needle holding capacity and includes a first connecting means engageable with a second connecting means on another needle holder of similar structure, whereby said needle holder and said another needle holder can be selectively interconnected to comprise a needle holder of greater needle holding capacity than said predetermined needle holding capacity of said needle holder.

13. A hand knitting device comprising a. a plurality of needle holders detachably interconnected in end-to-end relationship;

b. a plurality of latch needles, each having i. a first yarn-engaging end comprising a yarn engaging hook,

,ii. a second end remote from said first end, and

iii. an axial direction defined by a line joining said first and second ends, and

0. means for independently connecting selective ones of said plurality of latch needles to each of said needle holders and preventing movement of each needle, in its axial direction, with respect to said needle holders, said means comprising i. track means on each said needle holder; and

ii. track engaging means on each said needle for slidably mounting said needles on said track means, whereby each said needle is adapted to slide relative to said needle holder in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said needle. 

1. A hand knitting device comprising: a. a needle holder; b. a plurality of latch needles, each having i. a first yarn-engaging end comprising a yarn engaging hook, ii. a second end remote from said first end, and iii. an axial direction defined by a line joining said first and second ends; and c. means for connecting each of said plurality of latch needles to said needle holder and preventing movement of the needle, in its axial direction, with respect to said needle holder, said means comprising i. track means on said needle holder; and ii. track engaging means on each said needle for slidably mounting said needles on said track means, whereby each said needle is adapted to slide relative to said needle holder in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said needle.
 2. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of needles comprises: a. a needle body; and b. a latch member slidably mounted on said needle body for movement axially of said needle body between an open position and a closed position.
 2. a plurality of second locking structures on said needle holder, each of said second locking structures being engageable by a selected one of said first locking structures to lock a needle actuating element and the needle associated therewith against movement of said needle in a direction perpendicular to the needle axis with respect to the needle holder.
 3. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said needle includes a resilient biasing means engaging said needle body and said latch whereby said latch is biased towards one of said open and closed positions.
 4. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said one of said open and closed positions is said open position.
 5. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said needle latch has connected thereto a needle actuating element.
 6. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said needle actuating element and the needle body associated therewith include selectively interengageable catch means selectively holding said latch in whichever of said open or said closed positions is not said one of said open or said closed positions.
 7. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said needle latch has connected thereto a needle actuating element.
 8. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 7 including locking means selectively locking each of said needles to said needle holder.
 9. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 6 including locking means selectively locking each of said needles to said needle holder.
 10. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprise:
 11. A hand knitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said needle holder is of an arcuate configuration.
 12. A hanD knitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said needle holder has a predetermined needle holding capacity and includes a first connecting means engageable with a second connecting means on another needle holder of similar structure, whereby said needle holder and said another needle holder can be selectively interconnected to comprise a needle holder of greater needle holding capacity than said predetermined needle holding capacity of said needle holder.
 13. A hand knitting device comprising a. a plurality of needle holders detachably interconnected in end-to-end relationship; b. a plurality of latch needles, each having i. a first yarn-engaging end comprising a yarn engaging hook, ii. a second end remote from said first end, and iii. an axial direction defined by a line joining said first and second ends, and c. means for independently connecting selective ones of said plurality of latch needles to each of said needle holders and preventing movement of each needle, in its axial direction, with respect to said needle holders, said means comprising i. track means on each said needle holder; and ii. track engaging means on each said needle for slidably mounting said needles on said track means, whereby each said needle is adapted to slide relative to said needle holder in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said needle. 